The Cecil Whig., 1887-12-24


of Henry VI, belonging to the ccre-
monY, is here given:
"Welcome be tbon Heavenly King,
Welcome born on tins morning,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome. YuIe.
Welcome be ye, Stephen and John;
Welcome, innOcents, every one!
Welcome, Thomas, martyr one;
Welcome, Yule.
Welcome he ye that are here;
Welcome all, and make good cheer
Welcome all another year;
Welcome, Yule"
A part of the yule log was pre-
selVc- with the greatest care to as
I sist in lighting the log on the follow
| ing year, and it was believed that
its preservation brought with it an
etfectual security against the scourge
Of fire. Among the superstitious it
was considered a remarkably bad
omen if squirting person entered
the hall when the log was burning.
A yu'e candle of very large proper
tons was also GIFTED, and this prac-
tee is commenoratcdi in the Christ
mas candles of the present day. In
the counties of Devonshire and Corn
wall, in England, superstition pre-
walls even in some districts at the
present day, that the cattle in their
stalls fall down upon their knees and
worship the infant Savior, ant the
bees sing in their hives.
The boar's head has been noticed
as being the most honorcd of the
Chri,tmas dishes. The peacock was
also a favorite dish. Sometimes it
was served in a pie, with the tail
spreading out at one end, and the
head at the other. But generally the
bird WAS skinned, roasted, stuffed
with herbs and sweet spices; then
he skin with the plunage was put
on again, and it was borne into the
banquetlng hall by lady and placed
it the chief part of the table. Oaths
were taken with drawn swords over
it, and from this custom comes the
saying which may be found in the
works Of many of the old play writer's
of 'bY cock and pie" Another
tavorlte dish was turmetry, served
with milk of almonds, yolks OF eggs,
etc, A mince pie, known in the
olden times as mutton pie, was
held in great estimation. 1t was
baked in coffln-seaped crust, in
tended to represent the manger in
which the child JesucS was laid.
MnCe pies were abhorred by the
Purltans, yet the descendants of the
Puritans, on this side of the Atlantic,
at the present day have a marvellous
passion for them.
The high-shoe lords of Comwo'l's making
Were not for 3ainties, roasting, baking;
The chiefest food they fourd most good in
Was rusty bacon AMI bag-pudding;
Plnm broth was popish and mince pie
Oh, that was fat idoatry!"
One of the superstitions of Christ
mas in England related to the famous
thorn tree of Glastonsbury, which
blooms on Christmas day. The le-
gend runs that St. Joseph of Ara
malhea landed not far from the town,
and stuck his staff, into the ground
while he rested himself. The stick
took roo. and budded every Christ
ma; day after. The tree was hewn
down by Puritan, but it is said that
he cut his leg during the operation,
and a chip also flew up and put out
his eye. The trunk, though they
separated it from the root, grew and
tiourished; and other slips had been
planted elsewhere, SO that blossoms
were taken abroad and sold as relics
by the Bristol merchants. The pub
lie watched tle tree, but somewhere
about the middle of the 18th century
it did not blossom until the 5th of
January, which was Christmas dav,
old style.
With the words of Sir Roger de-
Coverley this article shall be brought
to a close: Il have often thought"
said Sir Roger, "it happens very
we'll that Christmas should fall out in
the middle of winter. 1t is the most
dead uncomfortable time Of the year,
when the poor people would suffer
very much from their poverty and
cold, if they had not good chez,
warm and Christmas gambols to sup
port them. | love to rejoice their
poor hearts at this season, and to
see the whole village merry in my
great hall. allow a double guam
tity Of malt to my small beer and
set it running for "a days to every
one that Gals for it. l have always
piece of cold beef or mince pie on
ths table" VIII the benevolently
inclined, at this season of general
testivity, lay to their hearts the words
of & OIL old Sir Roger? The poor
we have always with us.